Shell dispenser



Jan. 15, 1935. F, A, DODGE SHELL DISPENSER Filed July 28, 1933 Y E N R m T A Patented Jan. 15, 1935 I meant- SHELL DISPENSER p 1 Frank Adrian Dodge, Balboa, Canal Zone''- l Application 'J ii es, 193s, smal'iva'sszg'us I 2 Claims. (01. 312F72 This invention is-a dispensing. apparatus and. is designed more particularly for use upontrapshooting fie1ds',the object being toprovide means whereby the shells ,to be fired by the several t marksmen will be supported in such a manner as to be readily accessible to the shooter.

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism for the stated purpose whereby as each marksmans supply of shells is exhausted exposed.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device for the stated purpose which may be easily moved from point to point and which will provide space available for printing matter.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and the invention resides in certain novel features which will be hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a dispensing device embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a front elevation on a somewhat larger scale, partly broken away.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5--5 of Figure 3 on a larger scale.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the base, showing'in detail one of the caster rollers.

In carrying out the present invention there is provided a base 1 which may be of any preferred design and is preferably mounted. upon rollers 2 and a rubber pad 2. The rollers readily permit movement of the base from place to place over a supporting surface, it being understood that the base when slightly tilted disengages the pad from the surface and when the pad is contacted with the surface, the base will be retained against accidental movement. Upon this base may be placed an identifying character, as indicated at 3, whereby the station to which the particular device is assignedwill be known. Secured rigidly 45 to and rising centrally from the base is a standard 4 and upon the upper end of this standard is fitted or secured a frame carrying a case 5 in which is slidably mounted a. plurality of trays 6. The bottom of they case 5 rests upon a central box or hub member '7 and is secured thereto, the hub member being in turn secured toflanges 8 which extend across the front and rear of the standard 4. Side plates 9 are secured to the ends of the flanges 8 and extensions 10 are secured to these side plates and project at the sides of the the supply for the succeeding marksman will be device, vertically disposed flanges 11 being. provided at theiends and back of these extensions wherebyextra boxes of cartridges may be supported and constitute readily accessible meansfor replenishing 1 the supplies. .The bottom of. thQ =5 case 5 is also extended forwardly, as shown at 12, and a handle 13 is disposed between the said extension 12 and a bottom plate 14 and is secured thereto, as shown in Figure 4. Each tray 6 is formed with an upstanding lug or flange 15 at 10 its inner or rear end and this flange or lug is slidably fitted upon a rod 16 extending between the back and front plates of the case and secured thereto, the front plate 17 having openings 18 therein through which the bottoms of the respecl5 tive trays may move. A coil spring 19 is arranged around each of the guide rods 16 between the front plate of the casing and the flange 15 of the respective tray so that when the tray is not held at the front of the case the spring will expand and retract the tray into the case. At the front edge of the tray is a short upstanding flange 20 against which the flanged ends of the cartridges are to be placed and when a tray is carrying a cartridge the cartridge will be disposed with its respective ends abutting said flange or lip and the front plate of the casing, as shown in Figure 4.

An apron 21 of stout canvas or other textile material is secured to and depends from the bottom of the flanged members 8 and from the extensions 10, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and this apron provides space for printing matter, preferably stating the name of the club and the officers of the latter. When the device is not in use this apron may be carried upwardly and folded over the top of the case so as to entirely cover the same and protect it from inclement weather.

When the device is to be used the lowermost tray is drawn forwardly and shells are placed therein between the front flange 20 and the front 40 plate of the case and to insure proper separation of the shells, longitudinal ribs or partitions 22 may be provided upon the upper surface of the tray bottom. When the lowest tray has been filled the next superposed tray is drawn forwardly and filled and the operation is repeated on all the trays successively upwardly until all the trays are filled. It will be noted that the trays are held in their forward position by the shells inasmuch as the shells abut the front plate of the case at their rear ends and the trays abut the front ends of the shells and each tray will form a cover for the tray below it. It is intended that each tray will hold the number of shells allotted to each marksman for a single round and when the first marksman has fired all the shells allotted to him the uppermost tray from which the shells were drawn will be automatically retracted by the springs 19 cooperating therewith. The retraction of the uppermost tray will expose the shells on the tray below it and each tray will be automatically retracted and expose the tray below it as the firing progresses.

As shown in Figure 4, the space between the trays is such that shells cannot, be withdrawn from a lower tray while the tray. above it is exposed and consequently the firing must proceed in the prearranged manner.

The device is very simple and compact and may be readily filled with the allotted number of cartridges and will automatically operate to expose successive allotments of cartridges as charges are used.

Having described the invention, I claim: p 1. A dispensing apparatus comprising a casing, a plurality of superposed trays slidably mounted within the casing and provided with upstanding flanges at. their forward ends, means for yieldably holding the trays. within the casing, the front plate of the casing having slots therein whereby the tray may slide into or out of the casing but will be prevented from being fully withdrawn, and shells placed upon the forward portion of an exposed tray will be held between the upstanding flanges on the tray and the front plate of the casing and the tray will be held against being drawn into the latter and will prevent access to a lower tray.

2. A dispensing apparatus comprising a casing, a plurality of trays mounted in the casing in superposed relation, guide rods secured in and extending between the front and back walls of the casing and passing through the rear ends of the trays, the front wall of the casing being provided with slots accommodating the bottoms of the trays; expansionsprings coiled around the guide rods between the front wall of the casing and the back ends of the trays, and cartridge retainers at the front ends of the trays whereby when cartridges are placed upon the forward exposed part'of a tray said cartridges will abut said retainers and the front walls of the casing and will prevent drawing of the trayinto the latter.

FRANK ADRIAN DODGE. 

